VOX ac15c1 reverb tank

Dapperdan

Joined: Feb 13, 2016
Posts: 19

Posted on Dec 15 2017 10:34 AM

Hello, I have a vox ac15c1 and I find the stock reverb is terrible and I want to replace it. I have watched tons of demos on youtube but they all seem just as unimpressive or the playing is really bad. Just wondering if anyone has some good replacement recommendations for me. It's either this, or I look for a reverb pedal like the topanga. Thanks.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Dec 15 2017 11:42 AM

The pedal is going to be your best bet.

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Surfadelphia

Joined: Sep 04, 2017
Posts: 435

Posted on Dec 15 2017 01:50 PM

Can't argue with a good pedal. There are a few out there that do a really spot on emulation of good in-amp spring reverb plus other usefull reverb sounds. If you just want to replace the stock short pan, a three spring MOD pan (8EB2C1B) will be a nice upgrade tonewise to the stock pan. If you want to get a bit more adventurous, I'm pretty sure there is plenty of room inside the bottom of the cab for a two spring 17" MOD pan (4EB2C1B). Either pan is a cheap upgrade (under $20.00). Pedalwise, if money is no object, I'd kill two birds with one stone and get a Strymon Flint, excellent reverbs and killer tremolo/vibrato sounds in one pedal.

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tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Dec 15 2017 08:16 PM

The reverb circuit in the AC15 1C is SS-based cheap spring reverb. It won't do vintage Vox reverb. As Surfadelphia says, the easiest way to try boosting the reverb is a compatible 3-spring pan or longer-delay 2-spring pan that has the same input and output impedance as the stock pan. The old Accutronics pan code system is fairly universally used by modern manufacturers. An 8EB3C1B will be a long decay. Depending on how much space there is inside your cab, you could try an equivalent Type 9 pan (if it will fit). Other than that use a pedal or an standalone reverb tank.

Edit: The Link for the Accutronics pan numbering system: http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/main/?skin=sub01_03.html

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Last edited: Dec 19, 2017 19:20:45

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Surfadelphia

Joined: Sep 04, 2017
Posts: 435

Posted on Dec 15 2017 11:19 PM

Yes the fact that the AC151C is a transistor driven reverb does not help things. Replacing the stock Accutronics pan with a MOD pan in the Fender Blues Jr I once owned was a significant improvement and the BJr is also transistor driven reverb. This is just my personal preference, but I'd go with the medium decay MOD 8EB2C1B (or the 4EB2C1B 17") just because the MOD pans tend to have more decay time in general and much more reverb on tap and with no dwell control you're kind of stuck....but that's just me. That being said, the right reverb pedal can get you to many different tonal places as long as you don't need too much surf drip but now we are talking $100 - 200.00 vs $20.00 for a replacement tank. I do think that whatever direction Dapperdan decides to go, it will be an improvement on the stock tank (more than likely a Belton).

Last edited: Dec 15, 2017 23:21:34

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Dapperdan

Joined: Feb 13, 2016
Posts: 19

Posted on Dec 16 2017 10:49 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, I will take a look at the MOD reverbs and decide what to do, either way the stock reverb needs to go, it's just so bad. I may go with the topanga again, I used to have one but ended up selling it, or else I may look for a real reverb unit, I am interested in the Nocturne F-Bomb.

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Surfadelphia

Joined: Sep 04, 2017
Posts: 435

Posted on Dec 16 2017 04:05 PM

The Topanga is a great pedal. The Nocturne F-Bomb is as good as it gets in a standalone unit.

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Dapperdan

Joined: Feb 13, 2016
Posts: 19

Posted on Dec 18 2017 11:52 AM

So I covered all my bases. I ordered a new tank for the amp, bought a topanga, and am halfway to an F-Bomb. I should be ok for reverb for a while now

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Surfadelphia

Joined: Sep 04, 2017
Posts: 435

Posted on Dec 19 2017 08:34 AM

Dapperdan wrote:

So I covered all my bases. I ordered a new tank for the amp, bought a topanga, and am halfway to an F-Bomb. I should be ok for reverb for a while now

Well, you surely will never have to second guess "what if?". Looking forward to hearing how all your different options compare.

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Dapperdan Joined: Feb 13, 2016 Posts: 19	Posted on Dec 15 2017 10:34 AM Hello, I have a vox ac15c1 and I find the stock reverb is terrible and I want to replace it. I have watched tons of demos on youtube but they all seem just as unimpressive or the playing is really bad. Just wondering if anyone has some good replacement recommendations for me. It's either this, or I look for a reverb pedal like the topanga. Thanks. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 15 2017 11:42 AM The pedal is going to be your best bet. Top
Surfadelphia Joined: Sep 04, 2017 Posts: 435	Posted on Dec 15 2017 01:50 PM Can't argue with a good pedal. There are a few out there that do a really spot on emulation of good in-amp spring reverb plus other usefull reverb sounds. If you just want to replace the stock short pan, a three spring MOD pan (8EB2C1B) will be a nice upgrade tonewise to the stock pan. If you want to get a bit more adventurous, I'm pretty sure there is plenty of room inside the bottom of the cab for a two spring 17" MOD pan (4EB2C1B). Either pan is a cheap upgrade (under $20.00). Pedalwise, if money is no object, I'd kill two birds with one stone and get a Strymon Flint, excellent reverbs and killer tremolo/vibrato sounds in one pedal. Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Dec 15 2017 08:16 PM The reverb circuit in the AC15 1C is SS-based cheap spring reverb. It won't do vintage Vox reverb. As Surfadelphia says, the easiest way to try boosting the reverb is a compatible 3-spring pan or longer-delay 2-spring pan that has the same input and output impedance as the stock pan. The old Accutronics pan code system is fairly universally used by modern manufacturers. An 8EB3C1B will be a long decay. Depending on how much space there is inside your cab, you could try an equivalent Type 9 pan (if it will fit). Other than that use a pedal or an standalone reverb tank. Edit: The Link for the Accutronics pan numbering system: http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/main/?skin=sub01_03.html — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Last edited: Dec 19, 2017 19:20:45 Top
Surfadelphia Joined: Sep 04, 2017 Posts: 435	Posted on Dec 15 2017 11:19 PM Yes the fact that the AC151C is a transistor driven reverb does not help things. Replacing the stock Accutronics pan with a MOD pan in the Fender Blues Jr I once owned was a significant improvement and the BJr is also transistor driven reverb. This is just my personal preference, but I'd go with the medium decay MOD 8EB2C1B (or the 4EB2C1B 17") just because the MOD pans tend to have more decay time in general and much more reverb on tap and with no dwell control you're kind of stuck....but that's just me. That being said, the right reverb pedal can get you to many different tonal places as long as you don't need too much surf drip but now we are talking $100 - 200.00 vs $20.00 for a replacement tank. I do think that whatever direction Dapperdan decides to go, it will be an improvement on the stock tank (more than likely a Belton). Last edited: Dec 15, 2017 23:21:34 Top
Dapperdan Joined: Feb 13, 2016 Posts: 19	Posted on Dec 16 2017 10:49 AM Thanks for the suggestions, I will take a look at the MOD reverbs and decide what to do, either way the stock reverb needs to go, it's just so bad. I may go with the topanga again, I used to have one but ended up selling it, or else I may look for a real reverb unit, I am interested in the Nocturne F-Bomb. Top
Surfadelphia Joined: Sep 04, 2017 Posts: 435	Posted on Dec 16 2017 04:05 PM The Topanga is a great pedal. The Nocturne F-Bomb is as good as it gets in a standalone unit. Top
Dapperdan Joined: Feb 13, 2016 Posts: 19	Posted on Dec 18 2017 11:52 AM So I covered all my bases. I ordered a new tank for the amp, bought a topanga, and am halfway to an F-Bomb. I should be ok for reverb for a while now Top
Surfadelphia Joined: Sep 04, 2017 Posts: 435	Posted on Dec 19 2017 08:34 AM Dapperdan wrote: So I covered all my bases. I ordered a new tank for the amp, bought a topanga, and am halfway to an F-Bomb. I should be ok for reverb for a while now Well, you surely will never have to second guess "what if?". Looking forward to hearing how all your different options compare. Top

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VOX ac15c1 reverb tank